CONNOR, Bernadette Y. 1952-

PERSONAL: Born April 14, 1952, in Philadelphia, PA; daughter of Richard O. (in construction) and Inez (a domestic worker; maiden name, Patterson) Smith; married Edsel L. Connor, January 16, 1971 (divorced March 25, 1983); children: Edsel L., Jr., Eros L., Erica L. Ethnicity: "African American." Religion: Baptist. Hobbies and other interests: Music.

ADDRESSES: Home—8642 Temple Rd., Philadelphia, PA 19150; fax: 215-247-0680. E-mail—byconnor@aol.com.

CAREER: Writer. AT&T Communications, Philadelphia, PA, communication technician, 1980–90.

WRITINGS:

Damaged! (psychological suspense novel), Waverly House (Glenside, PA), 1998.

The Parcel Express Murders (mystery novel), BEE-CON Books (Philadelphia, PA), 2002.

Inherited (contemporary novel), BEE-CON Books (Philadelphia, PA), 2005.

SIDELIGHTS: Bernadette Y. Connor once told CA: "All of my life I thought of writing as my peculiar pastime. As a matter of fact, it was that nameless thing I did, never knowing that someday it would become the most treasured thing I did. My pen is my connection to God, my constant comforter. Rebellion was my original impetus to write. Because I grew up in a time when responding negatively to things said to you by your elders, or at inconvenient times your peers, I wrote my responses down. Occasionally I would write them in places where they were found and I got my message across.

"In school, my English teacher played the mournful poetry of Edgar Allan Poe, and it awakened something inside me. On my own I began to enjoy the 'bluesy' style of Langston Hughes, the way he lovingly wrapped his words around his people and described their joys and pain. My imagination was ignited by Taylor Caldwell and propelled beyond the stratosphere by Stephen King.

"I am an instinctive writer. The subjects of my work and the construction are all done in a sector of my brain I am unaware of. The stories are revealed to me just as they are to my readers. While this particular creative process is considered miraculous by the writer, she wouldn't have it any other way.

"I've learned that writing is not entirely that solitary activity that gives me so much joy now that I'm published. Public appearances are necessary to promote the books. While I love meeting with my readers, most of them have no idea that I would rather run off and lock myself in somewhere alone.

Connor later added: "To date I have completed thirteen novels and seven screenplays. Damaged! has been optioned for a movie by Robert and Kevin Hooks of Rock Creek Entertainment."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Black Issues Book Review, May-June, 2002, Maxine E. Thompson, review of The Parcel Express Murders, p. 41.

Publishers Weekly, November 16, 1998, review of Damaged!, p. 57.